A final problem is that studies tha

A final problem is that studies that use the moderated causal steps approach rarely report coefficients relating X,M, and Y at specific levels of Z. These coefficients can be derived by using principles for computing simple slopes(Aiken & West, 1991) and are essential to interpreting the nature of the moderating effects of Z on the paths linking X,M, and Y. These paths can also be used to assess the magnitudes of the indirect effect and direct effect at different levels of Z to determine which effect dominates the total effect and how the relative contributions of the direct effect and indirect effect depend on Z. This evidence is essential to substantive interpretation but is generally disregarded by studies that use the moderated causal steps approach.